#25 Basic Russian Expressions for Apologizing

Russian has several expressions for apologizing, including Извини́те, which can be used for minor apologies or to attract someone’s attention; Прости́те, which conveys a stronger request for forgiveness; and the more formal Прошу́ проще́ния.

The appropriate expression depends on your relationship with the other person and the seriousness of the situation. For example, the Russian equivalent of “Excuse me” when passing someone is different from the expression you would use to say “I am truly sorry” after hurting someone.

If you use these expressions without understanding their differences, your apology may sound unnecessarily serious. Conversely, it may fail to convey sufficient regret.

In this article, I will introduce commonly used Russian expressions for apologizing and explain their meanings, usage, and differences according to the situation.

1. Russian Has a Variety of Apology Expressions

In Russian, you need to choose an expression according to the seriousness of the apology, your relationship with the other person, and the situation.

The three main expressions are:

• Извини́те
  — Excuse me / I am sorry
• Прости́те
  — I am sorry / Please forgive me
• Извиня́юсь
  — Sorry / My apologies

Of these, Извини́те is the most commonly used.

It is useful in a wide range of situations, including travel, shopping, and restaurants, so I recommend learning it first. Depending on the context, it can also be used to attract someone’s attention, much like “Excuse me” in English.

By contrast, Прости́те expresses a stronger desire to be forgiven.

Извиня́юсь is a somewhat more casual way to apologize. In formal situations, Извини́те is generally the more appropriate choice.

2. Извини́те Is the Most Common Apology Expression

Извини́те is the most common expression for apologizing in Russian.

It means “Excuse me” or “I am sorry” and can be used in many everyday situations, including:

• When you accidentally bump into someone
• Before asking someone for directions
• When speaking to a shop assistant
• When interrupting someone
• When apologizing for a minor mistake

Like the English expression “Excuse me,” Извини́те is used not only as an apology but also to attract someone’s attention or politely begin speaking to them.

For example, when you want to ask someone for directions at a station or call a waiter in a restaurant, you can begin with Извини́те.

Grammatically, Извини́те is the imperative form used with the plural or polite pronoun вы. When speaking to a close friend or family member, the singular form Извини́ is also commonly used.

• Извини́те
  — A polite “Excuse me” or “I am sorry”
• Извини́
  — An informal “Sorry” used with someone close to you

Since Извини́те is useful in many situations, including both apologizing and attracting attention, I recommend learning it as a priority.

3. Прости́те Expresses a Request for Forgiveness

Прости́те comes from the verb прости́ть, meaning “to forgive.” It does more than simply express an apology; it also carries the meaning of “Please forgive me.”

For this reason, it is often used when you want to express deeper regret or a more sincere apology.

Typical situations include:

• When you have said something hurtful
• When you have broken a promise
• When apologizing for a serious mistake
• When you genuinely wish to ask for forgiveness

Прости́те can also be used when you did not hear what someone said and want them to repeat it. In this case, it has a meaning similar to “Pardon?” in English.

4. Is It Acceptable to Use Извиня́юсь?

Извиня́юсь is a colloquial expression meaning “Sorry” or “Excuse me.”

However, some people consider it less polite.

The reason is that Извиня́юсь is the 1st-person present-tense form of the verb извиня́ться, meaning “to apologize.” In addition, the ending -ся has a reflexive function. As a result, some people interpret the expression as sounding as though the speaker is “apologizing to themselves.”

However, this interpretation is based mainly on its grammatical form. In actual spoken Russian, Извиня́юсь is widely established and commonly used.

Nevertheless, in business situations, when speaking to someone senior, or in other formal contexts, Извини́те or Прости́те will generally sound more polite.

5. Expressions for More Formal Apologies

When you need to apologize more formally, the following expressions are also commonly used:

• Прошу́ проще́ния.
  — I sincerely apologize.
• Мне о́чень жаль.
  — I am very sorry. / I deeply regret it.

Прошу́ проще́ния contains the noun проще́ние, meaning “forgiveness.” It is a formal expression that can be translated as “I sincerely apologize” or “Please accept my apologies.”

By contrast, Мне о́чень жаль literally means “I am very sorry” or “It is very regrettable to me.” You can use it not only to apologize for your own mistake, but also to express sympathy when someone has experienced misfortune or a disappointing event.

In such contexts, it may mean “I am so sorry to hear that” or “That is very unfortunate.” It conveys more emotion than a simple “Excuse me” and is close in nuance to the English expression “I’m very sorry.”

6. Summary

Russian has a variety of expressions for apologizing, and the appropriate choice depends on the situation and your relationship with the other person.

The main expressions can be summarized as follows:

I recommend first learning how to use the two basic expressions Извините and Простите correctly.

Once you can also use Прошу прощения and Мне очень жаль in situations requiring a more formal or heartfelt apology, you will be able to express yourself much more precisely in Russian.

Yuri Miyajima

Writer

I’m a Japanese writer with a deep interest in Russia. Through my articles, I explore a wide range of topics related to the country, including its culture, history, traditions, food, everyday life, and language.